Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-03-19
GERTY'S TRAMP.
BN NATHAN -. URNEIs.

] hardly think that Gertys Tramp, as We
called Inn, would have been tolerated
around our Place for week, save for the
nj l-powerful protection which she persisted
in according him.
But, as it was, We gradually grew accus-
toned to him, and when he suddenly devel-
orcl Professional skill as tinsmith-as no
did one day by the merest accident--in seal
ing up tomato cans, preserve jars, and the
like, besides tinkering the kitchen ware, he
became of real use TO us, and at last recog-
nized rs fixture at The Naples, as my
snug villa on the Hudson was called.
His name was Ichabod Flotsam, as he
told Gerry soon after being taken under her
wing. After that We mostly called him Ike,
except the little girl herself, who always
addressed him or spoke of him as Ichabod
with much seriousness of manner.
Gerty, would say, in passing, is our
only child; a precocious, old-womanish,
wise little maid of twelve summers, but
with the ways and manners of many an en-
perienced housewife of thrice her years, and
whose slightest wish is mostly law with
both her mother and myself.
On the summer evening when Ichabod
Flotsam first shnmbled up TO our gate,
begin, for food and employment in n
thin, PARKWAY voice, he was the most I'M
attractive specimen of the genus tramp, of
the listless, knock kneed. bow backed,
furtive eyed variety, it had ever been our
misfortune to meet. We gave him plenty
to eat and a place i'll the barn to sleep.
Thereafter, as he grew fixed upon us, |
had cot rugged up for him i'll dsused
tool room over the coach house, and in n
short time his lugubrious personality be-
came almost as familiar and twice as
homely as the pump or the wires.
AT y II h
Assets, and not without a purpose, said
she, gravely. He is about to send to Pitts
bur4h for a carpet-bag containing valuable
papers. The Demon of Debt compelled
his leaving it there last spring. He has
also written and mailed an Epistle, whose
address he concealed from even Me"
The carpet bag arrived by express in due
course of time. Thereafter, for a week or
more, according to Gerry, Ichabods leisure
hours were employed III reading and re-
reading the letters which it contained.
The documents must be of Vast and
Mysterious import, said Gerry one day.
"Ichabod has twice admitted me to his
Apartment while he reads them. They are
all in one handwriting. which judge must
be Females. | think Crisis must be
at Hand"
On the following afternoon letter came
! for Ichabod, in my care. 1t was in FASH
| ionable envelope, and the address was IN q
woman's hand.
That evening he asked leave to go on the
| following morning to G-, to remain
perhaps till Thursday. l readily granted
| it, at the same time paying him few doll
lars owing to him, and expressed the hope
that his letter had brought him good news.
81 amt sure yet if it's good or bad, sir, y
said he; but it's made an appointment
with "a certain party I'm very DESTROYS of
meeting
He left for C. on foot at an early
hour in the morning, and l myself quilted
home shortly after, intending to pass the
day with a friend at H, the river land
| ing, which was about as far to the north of
us as was C, the railroad town to the
west trifle over six miles.
In the middle of the day, during my alb
sence my wife and daughter were visited
| by comely, bright eyed, business like
| lady, who had driven from II in a
hired coach, and who rather astonished
| them by saying:
Il am Selma Graves, a near relative of
| the young man, Ichabod Flosam, whom
you have been kindly employing for some
time past. l had an appointment to meet
him at the steamboat landing this morning.
| but he was not there. | drove right here,
thinking ne mlpnt DE SICK.
There must be some mistake about the
place of meeting" said my wife. "Ichabod
set out this morning for the railroad sta
ton at C., 10 meet some one from whom
he received letter yesterday
Dear me, how unfortunatc! said Miss
Graves; though maybe it WAS my fault
writing one thing and meaning another. l
could almost vow that | appointed to meet
him at the river, instead of the railroad.
But / must drive after him, poor fellow!
How far is it to c., pray! and have you
some one who will direct the hackman
which road to take?'
Certainly. 1t is only about the same
distance you have already driven" said my
wife. But will you not take off your
things and rest a little?"
The offer was politely declined, though
the visitor seemed suddenly overcome, and
applied her handkerchief to her eyes.
"Ichabod has had a terribly hard time of
it,, said she, recovering; "aDd l made so
certain of seeing him at once that this dis
appointment is very trying. Pray, bear
with me little, madam
And then, suddenly starting up, she ex-
claimed: by the way, my cousin was to
bring with him q number of letters which
he has lately received, and, from what !
remember of his forgetfuluess, he has as
like as not forgotten them. l wish | could
be certain. They are very important as
affecting us both. Indeed, without them
hardly think can effect the delicate task
OF reconciliation between him and Others
that Las brought me here"
"Ichabod took nothing with him but his
Walking Stick, ma'am, interposed Gerty.
"The letters make such large Package
that he could not have put them i'll his
pocket without BetrIying their presence.
Besides, he would have told Me, for I am
his Guardian"
Miss Graves, not being familiar with ouI
daughters unique style, at first stared. and
then laughed.
"Do take me TO his room at once" she
cried, impulsively, that l may carry the
letters to him, if he has forgotten them"
My wife hesitated. But she had been
rather prepossessed ly her visitor, and
finally directed Gerry TO conduct Miss
Graves 10 Ichabods room. This was ac-
cordingly done, the lady stopping on her
way To the coach house TO tell her hack
man to find out the proper road to G.,
for which she would be ready to set out in
a few moments. Upon reaching Ichabod's
room She according to Gerty, had rum
| mayed the young mans carpet-bag in a
very summary manner, possessed herself
of the letters, and then sprung hastily into
the hack and driven off, without so much
as Thank you" or 'Good-by" for my
wife.
This was the story they had FOR me when
| reached home that evening.
lchabod returned on Thursday morning,